We get a lot of calls that start with "I think there's a rat." Usually there is. Around here it's one of two species, and knowing which one helps us find how it's getting in.
Norway rats
Norway rats are the bigger, heavier of the two. They're brown-gray with a blunt nose and a tail shorter than their body. They're burrowers. They live in the ground, under decks, in woodpiles and along foundations, and they come into houses at ground level: through crawl space vents, gaps around pipes, and under garage doors.
If you're hearing activity in the crawl space or walls on the main floor, or seeing burrows along the foundation, it's likely Norway rats.
Roof rats
Roof rats are slimmer, darker, with a pointed nose, big ears, and a tail longer than their body. They're climbers. They live in trees, ivy and dense vegetation, travel along fences, power lines and branches, and come in high: through gaps at the eaves, roof vents and where the roof meets the wall.
If the noise is in the ceiling or attic, especially in a neighborhood with big trees, it's often roof rats.
What they leave behind
- Norway rat droppings: about 3/4 inch, blunt ends, often clustered
- Roof rat droppings: about 1/2 inch, pointed ends, scattered along runways
- Both leave greasy rub marks along regular paths
- Both chew wiring, ducts and insulation
Why it matters
With Norway rats, we spend more time on the foundation, crawl space vents and utility penetrations. With roof rats, we spend more time on the roofline, attic vents and trimming back branches that touch the house. In practice, many houses need both, but knowing who's moved in tells us where to start.
Either way, the fix is the same idea: remove the rats and close the gaps. Learn more about our rodent control and rodent proofing.